Towards improved performance and lower exhaust emissions using exhaust gas recirculation coupled compression ignition engine fuelled with nanofuel blends

ABSTRACT

Emission standards are becoming increasingly stringent. When it comes to diesel engine exhaust emissions, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and soot emissions need effective control as these emissions have a trade-off connection, making it difficult to achieve the emission regulation. To effectively manage NO_x emissions from diesel engines, external exhaust gas recirculation has been implemented. The effects of EGR on the engine characteristics of a single-cylinder diesel engine running on pongamia methyl ester mixed with aluminum oxide nanoparticles are detailed in this work. The pongamia methyl ester was mixed with mineral diesel (25 vol. %). The nanofuel blend was made by mixing aluminum oxide nanoparticles with B25 fuel at a dosage of 100 ppm (B25A100). Experiments with diesel, B25, and B25A100 with various EGR rates were conducted in a compression ignition engine (10–30%). The combined impact of nanoparticles blended B25 with 20% EGR yielded a substantial reduction in NO_x by 4.95% compared to B25. In addition, the unburnt hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and smoke emissions were found to increase as compared with B25. Arise in brake thermal efficiency of 4.6% was noticed for B25A100 + 20% EGR than that of B25. The brake specific fuel consumption was reduced by 4.23% for B25 blend. With 20% EGR, the in-cylinder pressure and instantaneous heat release rate were reduced. As a result, combining pongamia methyl ester with aluminum oxide nanoparticles and 20% EGR enhances engine performance while reducing emissions.

KEYWORDS:

• Pongamia methyl ester blend
• engine characteristics
• combustion
• exhaust emission
• exhaust gas recirculation
• aluminum oxide nanoparticles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).